Most Snow Since 1968!

Happy Winter Solstice!

Winter Blue In Portland

The gloaming of a winter's eve... from the warm inside.

Extra! Extra! Djinn Genie's Dizziness Diagnosed!

Dr. Epley is most widely noted for his "Canalith Theory" as the cause of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), and for development of the "Epley Maneuvers" for its treatment. This treatment and the supporting concepts are regarded as one of the greatest breakthroughs in the vestibular field in the past century.

All of you familiar with A Dizzy Life know that its namesake, Djinn Genie, has suffered symptoms of vertigo and dizziness for the last year. The search for treatment and diagnosis has been frustrating - no less than four supposed medical professionals were unable to determine the cause. Recently however, serendipity stepped in and saved the day. During a Google search on all things dizzy, I came across the man above (no divine intervention implied). Dr. John Epley is a pioneer in the field of vestibular inner-ear disorders, and the inventor of a treatment known as the "Epley Maneuver." Not only is this guy world-renowned, he is based right here in Portland, OR.
After a phone interview with Epley's assistant, Djinn was scheduled immediately for evaluation. Yesterday she underwent a 5-hour series of tests and analysis with the man himself - who did what apparently no one else could: give a definitive diagnosis. She has a case of Inner- ear concussion (IEC) - the result of a fall down the stairs in Salt Lake City three years ago. A jarring of the inner- ear can cause the balance sensors to become deranged or unable to function in an organized manner. The deranged inner- ear reacts to stimuli (sound, pressure, etc.) that it would not otherwise react to, sending misinformation to the brain regarding the body's position with respect to gravity and/or directional orientation. The result can be nausea, imbalance, intermittent vertigo or some combination thereof. Cognitive problems often follow, as the patient's brain must devote an inordinate percentage of function to coping with the false messages of body and gravity orientation it receives. Symptoms typically progress slowly over a period of months - which is exactly what happened.
Djinn was also diagnosed with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), due to small crystals of calcium carbonate debris which have collected within a part of the inner- ear - again the result of inner- ear trauma. This is the condition the Epley Maneuver is designed to treat. Rather than performing these movements manually, Dr. Epley has invented The Omniax - an automated, omni-axial, custom-built chair capable of moving a patient through 360 degrees in any plane and assuming any position relative to gravity. These movements reposition the crystals, allowing them to dissolve naturally. Djinn will be taking a ride on the Omnimax in about ten days. Treatment also has her on a histamine drug to facilitate healing of the damaged tissues in the inner ear.
This is fantastic news, and will likely result in a complete recovery for our beloved Djinn Genie! Yay!...
Love and happiness, GeeBee.

All These Things...

Me, Myself and Monkey would like to offer thanks to all who have visited this blog, and hope that you have found Some... Sense - or lack thereof within. There will be more, but for now I am choosing other pursuits of a less blogaspheric nature. Ideally, time would be kind and stop moving, which would be really fun... then everything could be done regardless of how long it takes (yet, long would not exist - stuff would just get done without clocks peering incessently at our progress, or lack thereof). But clocks cannot be stopped, therefore I must choose what to do under their relentless and unchangable face.
Art of a different sort is calling, so I intend to scribble things other than words. If they become presentable, I will post them here. Music also calls, so I will hear it - less from the speakers and more from my beautiful (thank you Djinn!!) Gibson acoustic guitar. These things will take rather large and unpredictable amounts of time to become what they shoud be, which ultimately will enable me to become what I am.
Impressionable new-age bear would know what I mean. In his post-to-be, which you will have to picture in your own minds, is basically this: He discovers self-help books and becomes so entranced by them that he has an epiphany. He discovers that what he does best is finding out what he is really good at - which turns out to be just that. He can discover new and more engaging self-help books and discover new ways of pusuing the search that is his true calling. You rock new-age bear!
Peace and happiness in the pusuit of peace and happiness to you all. Love, GeeBee.